South Carolina Fatal Truck Accident Lawyers
Each year, over 5,000 people lose their lives in crashes involving large trucks across the United States. These accidents happen in South Carolina as well, leaving families devastated and searching for answers. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal semi truck accident, you deserve answers and support. At Stewart Law Offices, we can help.
We can explain your legal rights and how you can seek the compensation you and your family need after you lost a loved one in a devastating commercial truck crash. Call or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation with a fatal truck accident attorney. You do not have to pay our team anything upfront, and we will not charge you any fees unless we win.**
How a Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Losing a family member in a fatal tractor trailer accident is overwhelming. Beyond the emotional toll, the financial impact can be significant. We understand that no amount of money can bring your loved one back. However, successful legal action can provide financial stability and hold the responsible parties accountable.
At Stewart Law Offices, we can handle the legal work of pursuing compensation for you, which includes the following:
- Investigating the crash scene to determine what happened
- Collecting and preserving important evidence, such as black box data and driver logs
- Identifying all liable parties, including the semi truck driver and the trucking company
- Handling all communication with insurance companies
- Fighting for fair compensation for your other losses
At Stewart Law Offices, we are available for our clients 24/7. This allows us to answer calls and return messages quickly. If necessary, our team will visit you at your home or in the hospital so that we can get started fighting for justice. You can feel confident knowing that you will have a truck accident lawyer, not a staff member, handling your case directly and keeping you updated on your case throughout.
Some case victories that our truck accident attorneys have achieved for clients include*:
- $9.8 million in a drunk driving car accident case
- $3.8 million in a wrongful death case
- $3.5 million in a tractor trailer accident
- $3.0 million in a semi truck wreck
- $2.0 million in the wrongful death of a child case due to inadequate crowd protection
- $1.1 million in a truck accident claim
We fight aggressively for our clients while providing compassionate representation, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way as one of our past clients shared: “An all-around great team of lawyers and a silver lining to a very bad experience! Everything was settled today. Went to get one check and actually wound up with 2!” – David J.
The above testimonial is not all the feedback the firm has received. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately. Prior results are not a guarantee that similar results can be achieved in future cases.
Types of Trucks Commonly Involved in Fatal Accidents in South Carolina
In construction zones, it is common to hear about a fatal dump truck accident taking someone’s life. That is because a dump truck fatal accident is more likely to involve heavy construction materials, which can cause a vehicle to tip over if they’re loaded in an unbalanced way. However, there are several types of trucks commonly involved in fatal accidents. These include:
Cement Trucks
A fatal cement truck accident is frequently the result of rollovers due to the truck’s top-heavy design. Cement mixers must maintain constant rotation to prevent the mixture from hardening, which can affect maneuverability and stability on curves or sudden stops.
Fire Trucks
Because they travel at high speeds, run red lights, and sometimes drive against traffic, fire trucks are more susceptible to intersection collisions or losing control while taking sharp turns.
Garbage Trucks
A fatal garbage truck accident is commonly caused by the vehicle’s frequent stops, sudden movements, and operation in residential neighborhoods. Limited visibility and backing maneuvers further increase the chances of striking pedestrians, cyclists, or smaller vehicles.
Logging Trucks
A fatal logging truck accident can be especially severe due to the truck’s oversized and extremely heavy cargo. If logs are not properly secured, they may shift or fall, leading to multi-vehicle crashes.
Common Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents
Many truck accident victims lose their lives due to preventable mistakes. Some of the most common causes of deadly truck accidents include the following:
- Driver Fatigue – Federal regulations set specific limits on how long truck drivers can stay on the road. However, there are many instances where trucking companies and drivers ignore these rules to meet tight deadlines. This can lead to exhausting and severe accidents.
- Distracted Driving – Truck drivers often use their phones or CB radios, eat meals, or adjust their GPS while driving, taking their eyes off the road. Even a few seconds of distractions can cause a driver to miss a sudden stop or drift into another lane, leading to deadly crashes.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving – Due to the size of semi-trucks, they need more time to come to a complete stop. When these vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed, they need even more time to stop. Speeding drivers often have difficulties stopping in time to avoid collisions.
- Poor Truck Maintenance – Worn-out brakes, tire blowouts, and engine failures can turn a truck into an out-of-control hazard. Regular inspections and repairs are crucial, but some companies cut corners to save money, putting everyone on the road at risk.
- Overloaded or Unbalanced Cargo – When a truck carries too much weight or has an unbalanced load, it can tip over or spill cargo onto the road. This can cause devastating accidents, especially on highways where other vehicles are traveling at high speeds.
- Driving Under the Influence – Alcohol and drugs slow down a driver’s reaction time and make it harder to make quick decisions when traffic suddenly changes. A truck driver under the influence puts countless lives in danger, as one wrong move can cause a catastrophic crash.
How a Wrongful Death Claim Can Help Your Family
Filing a wrongful death claim can help you get financial support to cover your losses and take care of your family in the future. Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses related to the accident
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income and future earnings
- Loss of companionship and support
- The pain and suffering endured by your loved one in the time leading up to their passing
A knowledgeable attorney will demand maximum compensation on your behalf and fight for the accountability your family deserves.
Contact Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
If you have lost a loved one in a South Carolina fatal truck accident, you deserve answers. Our team at the personal injury law firm of Stewart Law Offices is here to guide you through this difficult time and help you seek justice. Call us or contact us online today for a free consultation.